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Protracted delirium with Sheehan's syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

Maximilian Gahr ,
Sigrun Hügl  and
Roland Freudenmann
Maximilian Gahr*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
Sigrun Hügl
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
Roland Freudenmann
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
*
Maximilian Gahr, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 12-14, 89075 Ulm, Germany. Tel: +49 731 500 61552; Fax: +49 731 500 61462; E-mail: maximilian.gahr@uni-ulm.de
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Extract

Objective: Delirium is a common problem, but often misdiagnosed and unidentified. Apart from the manifold clinical picture variable durations can also be an obstacle for its diagnosis.

Methods: We present a case of protracted delirium that has developed after severe somatic illness in association with previously undiagnosed Sheehan's syndrome.

Results: The variety of psychiatric symptoms with initial psychotic disorder and the long run of the disease delayed the diagnosis of delirium and meantime gave reason to assume personality change.

Conclusion: This case report calls attention to the possibility of protracted delirium in patients with neuropsychiatric deficit symptoms that persist subsequent to somatic illness.

Keywords

diagnostic labellingmental disorderpsychiatric diagnosis
Type
Case Report
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , June 2012 , pp. 183 - 185
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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